Machine for making spring bands and like articles



March 6, 1928. 1,661,696

P. 'r. LAVINDER MACHINE FQR MAKING SPRING BANDS AND LIKE ARTICLES Filed April 5. 1925 IN VEN TOR.

P/Zk? 7 L a w'zzakr B Y ATTORNEYJ.

96g,Ma0% 4 Patented Mar. 5, 1928..

UNITED STATES PHILIP T. 'LAVINDER, OF SALEM, VIRGINIA.

MACHINE FOR MAKING SPRING BANDS AND LIKE ARTICLES.

Application filed April 3, 1925.. Serial No. 20,391.

The present improvements have as their object the adaptation of a standard forging or like machine to the welding together and crowning of the ends of spring bands. The novel construction and assembly of parts may of course be equally well embodiedwin a special forging machine or in a bulldozer or in an air, steam or drop hammer. As a result of the present improved construction, the capacity of a machine of anyof the foregoing types is greatly increased, for example, a standard or special forging machine having amaximum capacity to receive a four inch spring band can be made to accommodate an eight inch spring hand.

To the accomplishment ofthe foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed outin the claims, the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle'of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the essential parts of a standard forging machine with the parts added thereto which constitute the present improvements; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view ofthe same taken from a different angle and with certain parts removed.

F or the purpose of illustrating the present improvements, it has not been deemed necessary to show the complete forging machine since, as indicated above, this may beassumed to be of standard construction (see, for example, U. S. Patent No. 737,065, issued to John R. Blakeslee under date of August 25, 1903). In other words, such machine includes a header slide (not shown) reciprocably mounted on the bed of the machine, and suitable mechanism for operating such slide. This slide carries a header 1 that is suitably attached thereto, as by means of a shank 2, in the usual manner. Projecting forwardly from the body of the header 1 are two similar side walls 3, 3, between which is included an open rectangular space, as best shown in Fig. 2. The rear inner faces of said walls are formed with corresponding vertical grooves 4, 4, that serve to receive a removable crown block 5, such block when in place forming the inner wall of the space thus laterally bounded by the '14: (see Fig. after it has walls 3 and being thus removable sothat blocks of different shapes and forms may be used to permit the spring band to be made with different shapes and forms of crown.

There is also. provided in the top of header 1, immediately to the rear of the side walls 3, a transversely extei'lding undercut groove. ('3 that is adapted to receive a com plen'ientaiy tongue 7 on a cover plate 8. In addition to being thus dove-tailed to the header, said plate is further secured thereto by means of set bolts 9 and in order to facilitate the removal and replacement of the plate, it is providcdwith an upwardly projecting apertured lug, all as shown in Fig. 4 v p Header 1 is slidably interfitted with a. bottom plate or diesupport 10 that is fixedly clamped to the bed of the forging or other machine, by means of clamps that fit in holes 11 located adjacent the respective sides of said plate. The header preferably has'a dovetailed engagement with said plate .10, the lower edges of the side walls 3 being grooved to fit within the inwardly beveled slides 12 on the plate, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Rising centrally from plate 10 and solidly secured thereto is a die in the form of a post 13 around which a spring band 1) is designed to be slipped, been brought to the proper welding heat, with the ends to be welded and crowned facing the opening between side walls 3 of the header and the crown block 5. The side walls of post 13 are slightly inclined so as to give said post a corresponding taper, the larger end being at the bottom, such taper allowing the spring band when forged and crowned to be easily removed.

The operation of my improved mechanism for making spring bands should be readily apparent from the foregoing description. The band in the form shown in Fig. 1 is of course placed on the post 13 when the header 1 is in its retracted position. The forging machine is then permitted to operate, with the result that the header is moved forwardly along the dovetailed slides 12, whereupon the inner faces of the side walls 3 of the header come in contact with the lateral faces of said band so as to firmly hold the latter on the post 13. At the same time the cover 8 of the header is brought over the upper end of the band and prevents the latter from moving upwardly. As the header nears the end of its stroke, the overlapping ends of the band come in contact with the crown block 5 and are welded and crowned at the same time. The header after completing its stroke returns to its original position, whereupon the finished band is removed and an unfinished band put on post 13 in its place.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated 1 means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In mechanism for making springbands, the combination of a support, a die post fixed thereto, a header-slide reciprocable relative to said post, forwardly projecting side walls on said slide to embrace said post at both sides, and a crown-block held within said side walls at the rear by undercuts.

2. In mechanism for making springbands, the combination of a support, a diepost fixed thereto, a header-slide having dove-tailed engagement with said support for reciprocating movement relative to said post, forwardly projecting side walls on said slide to embrace said post at both sides, and a crown-block at the rear of the space between said side walls.

3. In mechanism for making springbands, the combination ofa support, a diepost fixed thereto, a header-slide having dove-tailed engagement with said support for reciprocating movement relative to said post, forwardly projecting side walls on said slide, vertical internal grooves at the rear of said side walls, and a crown-block held by said grooves.

4. In mechanism for making springbands, the combination of a support, a diepost fixed thereto, a header slide having dove-tailed engagement with said support for reciprocating movement relative to said post, forwardly projecting side walls on said slide, vertical internal undercut grooves at the rear of said side walls, a crown-block held by said grooves, a cover-plate to overlie the space between the side walls, and means for securing said plate.

In mechanism for making springbands, the combination of a support, a diepost fixed thereto, a header-slide having dove-tailed engagement with said support for reciprocating movement relative to said post, forwardly projecting side walls on said slide, vertical internal undercut grooves at the rear of said side walls, a crown-block held by said grooves, a transverse undercut groove on top of the header back of the side walls, a cover-plate to overlie the space between the side walls and having a tongue en 'ageable in said groove.

gigned by me this th day of March, 1925.

PHILIP T. LAVINDER. 

